Hydraulic antenna rotator



D. E: GRAY 2,825,240

HYDRAULIC ANTENNA RoTAToR Filed oct. 14, 1954 INVENTOR. a/mw i 66m/ BY ma WM,

r 2,825,240 l :Patented .Mars-4, 1958 ;z;szs,z4o

HYDRAULIC 'ANTENNA y RoTAroR DonaldE. Gray, Seasideul'ark, N. J., assignor to Radiart .(Zorporation,- Cleveland, Ohio, .a corporation of Ohio fApplcation. October 14, 1954,1'Serial No'. 462,216

10.Claims. (Cl. 74507) vThis invention is concerned withianantenna trotator, and more` specifically ahydraulic.bellowsactuated rotator for use with directional antennas.

.'Inmany locations television antennasvshouldlbe rotatable in order to obtain satisfactory-results. for all -of the channels that maybe 'received in that area. Here- Vtofore, attempts to solve this` problemand Aprovide antenna rotators have .not been generally acceptable because of the cost involved or other handicaps.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to. provide aremote control rotator that is at .the Sametime simple, compact, rugged and inexpensive.

Another object of this invention .is to provide a direc- .tional antenna vrotator .that vemploys merely `a single ysmall diameter, hydraulic `pipe-asthesole connection from the rotator located at the antennak to the 'remote control which `may be convenientlylocatednear the receiving set.

.Another object of this inventionisto provide-.a hydraulic bellows actuated rotator which may be :turned throughout a full revolution by merely turningaiknob onwa remote'bellows which may be conveniently located near-.the receivingset.

.Still another object of .this inventioni is. to fprovidea hydraulic. bellows. rotator that includes temperature compensation for thevariations 'in outdoor temperaturewhich would .normallyrender the positioningof thev rotator variable throughout the seasons.

Briefly, this invention-is concerned with an antenna rotatorxfor afdirectional'antenna. having an upright supporting member therefor. .The invention vcomprising bearingmeans for rotatably supportingthe'upright member,.and kmeansforl rotating said member '..through substantially one revolution. The rotating `means -including uidactuated -be1lows,-means coupling said bellows. to said lrotatable :means to yposition `the :memberin: rotation, second` bellows remotely. connected. to Ysaid .liuid actuated bellows, and means for'varying theyolume of saidisecond.bellows to zactuate saidfluid actuated .bellowsto -position the supportemember Iin rotation.

One embodiment of the invention is described indetail belowand illustrated in the drawings :in which- '.Fjg. lis an.elevation illustrating ,the mounting ofthe rotatorzinconjunction with the entire directional antenna;

. Fig. 2`is a side'elevationhaving some detailsin crosssection and being. taken on theopen side of the antenna rotator with the cover removed, and including abroken away V'View partly in s cross-section'. of :the remote' control bellows;

Fig. 4 is a 'cross-section' View :taken talongthe line 4-.4 .of Fig.y 2.

, Referring to. Eignl, it v.willbe'observed ythatthe 1unit for. rotating` ...a .directional antenna .-.may. be4 mountednas an .element of. the4 shaft.-for .theantennat sothat.- the mounting of ,the complete. antenna plus Yrotator may take the usual form, with brackets or straps for mounting on fa Ychimney. As VYillustrated 4in Fig. 1,l the 'external'.telev.ments ofuthefrotator Lincludefa lrotator-11 that supports .,a. shaft 12`V which carries -the usual directional antenna 13 at theextremty thereof. This antenna 13 maybe any vstyle. directionalv antenna,'e. g. asimple dipole lwithsrellectorsas illustrated. VBelowfthe `housing'11 there His another shaft.14. :Thislower or supporting shaft'14 may be Vapiecefcut off of the same shaft 12 at theitime of vmountingthe rotator 11 if' the rotator. is added .to an existing' stationary unit. In any case,` shaft 14 is mounted Vforadcquate support on an' elevated portion 'of a suitable location such as near the top of.r a chimney. 151as. illustrated iinFig. 1. IntV this typeof mounting there 'is a pairof'straps -16 which clamp'onto shaft 14 and encircle Vthe chimneyilSfor support.

.Referring vto-Figs.-2, 3 and '4, the detailsof the `remotely controlled rotator l1'1 are clearlyyillustrated. .Therenisa rectangular housing20 which may be constructed offanysuitable-material, e. g. aluminum or other I .weatherproof material having suflicient structural strength. ,The shape of this housing 20 might begother .than rectangular, depending upon the, particular design of. the. rotator. There is a holeor opening .21.in the .top ofthe .housing-:20 that yis formed'with an upstanding lipy .22. toaid in.. excluding 'moisture from running down the shaft r12r into the. interior of housing 20. Located on theshaftlZ in cooperation with the lip 22of opening .121,thereisa resilient-material collar 230m the shaft 12 -whichoverlaps the 1ip-22 `tol give a weatherproof joint between the shaft/12 and vthe-housing 20. .The .lip 22 and .opening lr21 togetheractasan' upper bearing for supporting: the shaft 12, while.allowing free 'rotation thereof. yOther,typesofrbearing might be employed, e. g.

a. ball-bearing 'or some special bearing materi-al f surface may. be used ."if desired.

Inside-the housing .29, securelyI attached thereto =by rivets. or in someother feasible manner, -there jis a; support.24..that holds a thrust bearing 25 which-receives the extremity ofthe .shaft 12 .and.lendsvertical support .to the shaft,.as well as llateral bearing support thereto. `vSecurely.attached to the shaft-12fata convenientlocation for rotation. with 'the shaft vthere .is apiuion -29ifthatf may have apin 30 .transversely through .the collar thereofto insure .the rotation .ofgpinion-.29 and,;shaft-.-12.together. Meshing with the pinion29 there v.isa gear: sector. 31 that is pivotally mounted on a short tshaft 32 havingfascrew head 33 andbeingthreadedto receive a: nut 34ffor-attachingthe gear sector31in` apivotalrmanner-to abracketS which .is weldedor otherwise. securelyifastenedto the inside. of .housing 20. .Onthe other side of .the pi-votlshaft 32 .fromgear sector 31.there isacrank arm extension .36 to which is pivoted aconnectingrlink?. Pivotedfinfturn tothe other extremity ofthe link 37. thereis another crank arm 38 that is securely attached to ashaft 35i-.for rotation therewith. Shaft 39 is rotatably -supported in abrackett40 which is ysecuredby .riveting orweldingor otherwise to theinterior ofthe housing20. At the other end ofshaft 39 (bottom asv viewed in Eig. 2).:there.-.is'vv another crank arm 41, which is securedto'thefshaftf39. forypositiverotation therewithand which-is situated at approximately 9.0" tothe.. position of crankarm-V 38, relative-tonshaftf Pivoted to the extremity tof cranio armv41 thereisacon*v f bellows 50 is directlylregulated by means of an ertending' enlarged flange orhead portion 55 `at the extremity thereof.

The threaded shaft 53 is carried by an internally threaded supporting block 56 which is welded orfotherwise securely fastened to the inside of end platel57 of housing 51. End plate 57 has a hole therethrough which leaves ample clearance for the threaded shaft 53.V For turning the shaft 53 and regulating its longitudinal position, there is knob 58 at the outer extremity thereof. `f In addition, there is an indicating bar 59, iwhich may be calibrated as illustrated in order to indicate (in cooperation with the flange of knob 58) a rotational position of the antenna shaft 12 that is` being remotely rotated. f

Connecting bellows 50 with differential bellows 45, there is a small size hydraulic pipe 66. It is contemplated that the inside diameter of pipe 66 maybe sufficiently small to maintain a capillary action with the hydraulic fluid that is being employed, such that the pipe 66 may be cut or broken without having hydraulicruid flow out of the pipe so long as the system is not under pressure at the time. The pipe 66 leads out from the base of bellows 50 and may conveniently be taken into the interior of housing 20 of the rotator 11, e. g. by being led up inside of shaft 14 since the supporting shafts 12 and 14 are ordinarily of a tubular construction. The pipe 66 will then lead into the top of a cup-shaped outer structure 671 of the differential bellows 45. In this manner hydraulic fluid that is filling a space 68 within the bellows 45 is connected for fluid transferral to the inside of bellows 50. The inner construction of differential belows 45 involves a main bellows 69 that separates space 68 within the cup-shaped outer structure '67, from a space 70 that is formed around an inner supporting bellows 71 which surounds the actuating shaft 43 of the differential bellows 45. The space 68 is similarly situated with respect to another supporting bellows 72, that is centrally located within the structurey 67 on the other side of the yoke 44 from supporting bellows 71. Connected to the space 70 for fluid coupling therewith there is a fluid pipe 73 that leads to a temperature-sensitive element or enclosed chamber 74 (see Figs. 3 and 4).

It will be observed that the structure of differential bellows 45 is such that there are two tightly sealed chambers 68 and 70 located adjacent but in a fluid separating manner, each of which has a pipe 66 and 73 respectively `for transferring fluid into or out of the respective chambers. The yoke 44 is an impervious solid cup-shaped dividing partition between chambers 68 and 70and is movable longitudinally within the outer structure 67 as it is acted upon by the difference in pressure in chambers 68 and 70 so as to vary the volume relationship between these two chambers as the main bellows 69 is squeezed or extended while the supporting bellows 71 and 72 `are alternatively compressed and extended with the movement of yoke 44.

The housing 20 is supported on lower extending shaft 14 by means of two brackets or loops 78 and an end thrust angled bracket 79. The housing 20 includes an end cover 80 (seeFigs. 3 and 4) that fitsover the open side of the housing 20. Differential bellows 45 is supported securel ly inv place within the housing 20 by means of three legs or posts 81 and a short bolt 82 which passes through a bent `down portion of a flange 83. This flange 83 extends around the base, or left end of differential bellows outer structure 67 as viewed `in Figs.` 2 and 3.`

Operation sequently when the knob 58 is rotated, threaded shaft 53 will be displaced longitudinally which will compress or extend the bellows 50. Such action will cause hydraulic fluid to flow one way or the other from the bellows 50 to the space 68 within differentialbellows 45, and this fluid flow will cause displacement of the yoke 44 which in turn will carry the output shaft 43 therewith in a longitudinal movement (horizontally left and right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3). This longitudinal motion of output shaft 43 is transmitted via thelink 42 and crank arms 4l and 38,\in conjunction with their supporting shaft 39, to the link .37 and thence to the crank arm 36 of the gear sector 31. Consequently; sector 31 is pivoted about its shaft 32 and causes a rotation of the pinion 29, which carries with it in rotation the antenna shaft 12 for variably rotating the directionalantenna 13. As indicated above, the indicator bar 59 at the remote control bellows 50 may be calibrated with markings to show the geographical position of the directional antenna 13 in connection with its supporting shaft 12.

In order to avoid errors in the positioning of shaft 12 and antenna 13,v the use of differential bellows 4S comes into play. Within the space orchamber 70 of the differential bellows 45 there is located a compressible fluid which is in communication with the temperature sensitive element 74. Therefore the changes in temperature that take place at the rotator 11 will be felt as an expansion or contraction effect on the temperature sensitive element 74, so as to vary the fluid pressure in chamber 70 of the differential bellows 45. In this manner the position of output shaft 43, as determined by yoke 44 of the differential bellows, will be the combined effect of the position of bellows-50 and the pressure on the fluid in the chamber 70 as determined by the temperature, within or at the housing 20 of the rotator.

While there has been described a specific embodiment` of a rotator in accordance with the applicable statutes, this is not to be taken in any way as limiting the scope of this invention but merely as being descriptive thereof.

It is claimed:

1. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising bearn ing means for rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including first fluid actuated bellows, means for coupling said bellows to said upright member to position the member in rotation, second bellows remotely located and connected `to said fluid actuated bellows, means for varying the volume of said second bellows to actuate said first fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, and temperature sensitive means for compensating for changes in temperature at said first named bellows. l

2. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an `uprightsupporting member therefor comprising bearing means for rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows, means for coupling said bellows to said upright 'member to position the member in rotation, sec-v ond bellows remotely located and connected to said fluid actuated bellows, means for varying the volume of said second bellows to actuate said first fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, and temperature sensitive means for compensating for changes in temperature at said first named bellows.

3. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising bearing means for rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows, means for couplingsaid bellows to said upright member to position the member in rotation, second bellows remotely located and connected to said fluid actuated bellows, means for varying the volume `of said secondbellows to actuate said rst fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, temperature sensitive means for compensating for changes in temperature at said first named bellows, and indicator means located at said second bellows and acting in conjunction with said volume varying means to indicate the rotational position of said upright member.

4. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising bearing means for rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including a pinion on said upright member, a gear sector meshing with said pinion, first fluid actuated bellows, means for coupling said first bellows with said gear sector for pivotally rotating the sector to cause rotation of said pinion, second bellows remotely located and connected to said fluid actuated bellows, means for varying the volume of said second bellows to actuate said first fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, and temperature sensitive means for compensating for `changes in temperature at said first named bellows.

5. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising bearing means for rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including a pinion on said upright member, a gear sector meshing with said pinion, first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows, means for coupling said first bellows with said gear sector for pivotally rotating the sector to cause rotation of said pinion, second bellows remotely located and connected to said fluid actuated bellows, means for varying the volume of said second bellows to actuate said first fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, and temperature sensitive means for compensating for changes in temperature at said first named bellows.

6. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising bearing means for rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including a pinion on said upright member, a gear sector meshing with said pinion, first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows, said bellows having two fluid tight chambers, means for coupling said first bellows with said gear sector for pivotally rotating the sector to cause rotation of said pinion, second bellows remotely located and connected to one of said chambers, means for varying the volume of said second bellows to actuate said first fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, -a temperature sensitive element containing a compressible fluid therein, and means for connecting said element to the other of said chambers for providing temperature compensation in the rotator.

7. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising bearing meansfor rotatably supporting said upright member, means for rotating said member through substantially one revolution including a pinion on said upright member, a gear sector meshing with said pinion, first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows having two fluid tight chambers, means for coupling said first bellows with said gear sector for pivotally rotating the sector to cause rotation of said pinion, second bellows remotely located and connected to one of said chambers, means for varying the volume of said second bellows to actuate said first fluid actuated bellows to position the supporting member in rotation, a temperature sensitive element containing a compressible fluid therein, means for connecting said element to the other of said chambers for providing temperature compensation in the rotator, and indicator means located at said second bellows and acting in conjunction with said volume varying means to indicate the rotational position of said upright member.

8. An antenna rotator' for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising a housing, means for supporting said housing from a shaft, a thrust bearing within said housing for supporting said upright member, a lateral support bearing for said upright member associated with said housing and spaced vertically from said thrust bearing, a pinion attached to said upright member for rotating it, a gear meshing with said pinion, first fluid actuated bellows, coupling means for causing rotation of said gear by said bellows, second bellows remotely located and connected to said fluid actuated bellows, a threaded shaft having a knob thereon, and means coupling said threaded shaft to said second bellows for variably compressing and expanding the same.

9. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising a housing, means for supporting said housing from a shaft, a thrust bearing within said housing for supporting said upright member, a lateral support bearing for said upright member associated with said housing and spaced vertically from said thrust bearing, a pinion attached to said upright member for rotating it, a gear meshing with said pinion, first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows, said bellows having two fluid tight chambers, coupling means for causing rotation of said gear by said bellows, second bellows remotely located and connected to one of said chambers, a threaded shaft having a knob thereon, means coupling said threaded shaft to said second bellows for variably compressing and expanding the same, a temperature sensitive element containing acompressible fluid therein, and means for connecting said element to the other of said chambers for providing temperature compensation in the rotator.

l0. An antenna rotator for a directional antenna having an upright supporting member therefor comprising a housing, means for supporting said housing from a shaft, a thrust bearing within said housing for supporting said upright member, a lateral support bearing located in the top of said housing,l weather proofing means surrounding said upright member adjacent to the top of said housing, a pinion attached to said upright member for rotating it, a gear meshing with said pinion, first differential pressure fluid actuated bellows, said bellows having two fluid tight chambers, coupling means for causing rotation of said gear by said bellows, second bellows remotely located and connected to one of said chambers, a threaded shaft having a knob thereon, means coupling said threaded shaft to said second bellows for variably compressing and expanding the same, a temperature sensitive element containing a compressible fluid therein, means for connecting said element to the other of said Vchambers for providing temperature compensation in the rotator, and an indicator cooperating with said knob for indicating the rotational position of said antenna.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,317 Birdsall June v19, :1923 2,164,475 Schjolin July 4, 1939 2,264,675 Nardone Dec. 2,11941 2,581,123 Merkle Jan. 1,1952 2,642,754 De Conti June 23, 1953 

